Pyrenees Coast-to-Coast (The 'C2C' or 'Raid Pyrenean')

It's probably no exaggeration to describe this as one of the World's great bike rides. You’ll climb some of the most iconic cols in France - nearly all of them Tour de France regulars and often the sites of great, race-deciding battles in years gone by.

Each of our C2C routes includes the Tourmalet, the Aubisque, the Aspin along with several other great climbs near the top of the list for any 'col bagger'.

Between the surfer’s paradise of the Atlantic coast and the sun-kissed beaches of the Mediterranean, you’ll benefit from detailed mapping, full vehicle support (saving you the hassle and weight of carrying multiple clothing layers or lots of spares), mechanical back-up and on-the-road refreshments.
Our high-capacity minibuses and trailers will provide airport pick-up & drop-off * and transport all your luggage (including bike boxes) from end to end, leaving you to concentrate on the cycling, the scenery and the camaraderie.

We offer FOUR different options for your 'Raid' or 'Coast to Coast' experience:

1. The 'official' Raid Pyrenean - if you want to ride the historic traverse in line with the guidelines laid out in the 1950s by the Cyclo Club Bearnaise (i.e. you must complete the ride between 1st June - 30th September, within a 100-hour time-frame and have a pass-book - known as a 'carnet' - stamped by e.g. cafe owners at key points along the ride) then we can provide all the support you need in arranging the pre-trip admin and on-the-road logistics, accommodation & meals. To the casual observer, with it's 100-hour time limit the Raid remains the most challenging option, but it actually bypasses some of the better climbs & most riders find our 'Pro Strength' route slightly more of a challenge. Nevertheless, it remains the benchmark against which other Pyrenean crossings are measured. We usually run our Raids in a West to East direction (to take advantage of the predominant wind direction).
2. The PyrActif 'Classic' Coast-to-Coast - since most riders will take a full week's holiday for this type of trip (and so have no real need to complete the ride inside 100 hours), the Classic C2C just relaxes the pace a little and takes you on a pure 'riders route' rather than the prescribed itinerary & check-points of the Raid. Also ridden West to East, we ride on a '5-day + 4-hours schedule' (rather than the Raid's 4-days + 4-hours), but the 'stages' remain challenging and all the most iconic climbs (Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin etc) still feature as you'd expect. As well as being able to enjoy an extra day's riding, you also avoid the need to have a pass-book stamped or to make yourself available for 'surprise inspections' as can be required by 'official Raid' rules.
3. The PyrActif 'Pro Strength' Coast-to-Coast - our most challenging route, combining as it does, a 6-day riding schedule with the very best climbs available to string together a full traverse. In addition to the 'Four Monuments' of the Aspin, Peyresourde, Tourmalet & Aubisque, we add in the 2001m 'monster' which is the Port de Pailheres, the magnificent ski station climb to Hautacam, the wonderful Basque cols of Bagargui & Burdincurutcheta and a sprinkling of less well known 'gems' which take you through the most scenic parts of the Pyrenees, away from the crowds & the traffic.
4. A fully bespoke crossing - tell us how & when you want to put your route together and we'll help make it happen for you. Maybe you want to take an occasional detour to include a famous 'dead end' climb like Luz Ardiden or Superbagneres? Maybe you want to sample the mythology of some of the short ultra-steep cols like the Peguere or Crouzette? Perhaps you want to ride a 100-hour schedule, but would prefer to avoid the bureaucracy of pass-books? Whatever your thinking, we'll do all we can to create your 'Perfect Raid'. And don't presume this will make the trip more expensive than a 'packaged' event. If your route & group size means we can still use accommodation where we have an exisiting relationship with the hotelier, then we'll keep our prices just as they are for our other options.

These are amongst our most popular tours each year – and with good reason; they really are cracking rides. For 2012 dates and prices continue down the page.

The magnificence of the Tourmalet

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“So many great memories (and still recovering legs) from our wonderful time in the Pyrenees.  Everything was first rate.  And what a super group of people with which to ride Coast to Coast, one of the many reasons our PyrActif experiences have been so special.” 
Murray Soicher, experienced road rider, Ottawa, Canada

“Thank you for an excellent week - you and Helen did a superb job.  I'm already enthused for next year!!”     
Pat Griffin, audax rider, Cork, Ireland

“Thanks for a great week in the mountains. I think you guys did a fantastic job. You added some nice touches; the route marking, Helen's picnic lunches and the way you looked after everybody in the occasional bad weather (especially the cafe stop on the Tourmalet). I was also impressed by your "marshaling". It was actually quite difficult to get lost! Keep up the good work. Looking forward to coming back next year.”           
Ian Graver, club rider and ‘sportivist’, Kent, UK

High on the Aubisque....

In 2012, we will run at least two tours along our Coast-to-Coast ‘Classic’ route – a West to East traverse over 710km, climbing 17 cols and 11,500m of elevation gain in a 7-day trip featuring 5½ days of riding.

For route and ride profile information click here or on the 'C2C Classic route' button near the foot of this page.

To maximise your enjoyment of a 'Classic C2C', we recommend flying into Biarritz airport (or to Toulouse on a flight arriving on a Saturday morning). The best return flights are from Carcassonne or Toulouse on the following Saturday.

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Expected to be popular again in 2012, is our Coast-to-Coast ‘Pro Strength’ option. Runing West-to-East in 2012, we tackle 20 major (Category 3 or above) climbs in 6 days riding. With 795km and 16,000m elevation gain under your belt at the end of the trip you will have ridden a truly memorable route.

For route and ride profile information click here or on the 'C2C Pro Strength route' button near the foot of this page.

To maximise your enjoyment of a 'Pro Strength C2C', we recommend flying into Biarritz (or toToulouse on aflight arriving on a Saturday morning). The best return flights are from Carcassonne or Toulouse the following Saturday. Please note that return flights from Toulouse need to check-in after 8 a.m. for us to make it back there from the end of the ride on time.

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And if you want to ride the ‘official’ 100-hour Raid Pyrenean then we can provide a full support package for that too. Riding from Hendaye on the Atlantic coast to Cerbere on the Mediterranean within the traditional 100-hour deadline, you’ll average around 170km per day and certainly go home knowing you’ve ‘done a ride’!

For route and ride profile information click here or on the 'Raid Pyrenean route' button near the foot of this page.

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Trip dates & prices 2012

Coast-to-Coast ‘Classic’

16th-23rd June 2012

25th August - 1st September 2012

8th-15th September 2012

(or contact us to discuss other options)

£889 per person

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Coast-to-Coast ‘Pro Strength’

25th Aug - 1st Sept 2012

£889 per person

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Raid Pyrenean